Wednesday 22 April 2015

Pink Squat Lobster

Image: Steve Childs
Someone's fairy godmother is looking decidedly... crabby.

It's the Pink Squat Lobster! Also known as the Hairy Squat Lobster.

Image: Matthias Liffers
Or the Hairy Pink Squat Lobster.

Image: touchement
Or the Fairy Squat Lobster.

Image: Tom Demeyer
It's a Squat Lobster...

Image: prilfish
Who's pink. And hairy.

Image: uniqueless
They're teensy things less than 1 cm (0.4 in) long, but they catch the eye with their pink and purple tinges and spots, not to mention a liberal covering of fuzzy white hairs.

At least, they would catch the eye if they didn't spend so much time hiding among the crinkly recesses of barrel sponges in places like Indonesia and Australia.


Video: Eunjae Im

Now they can walk the caverns and crevices as they seek out the tasty crumbs that litter the sponge's porous surface.


Video: liquidguru

Like other Squat Lobsters, the Pink variety bears two pincers and walks around on three pairs of legs. Most Squat Lobsters keep their fourth pair hidden away most of the time, but the Pink Squat Lobster's rear legs seem to get a lot more use than normal. They're constantly at work grooming those long, fuzzy hairs, clearing out the fluff and debris.

It takes a lot of effort for a hairy, pink fairy to look this good!

7 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

cute little things!

Crunchy said...

Very Hairy Fairy Pink Squat Lobster! What else can we say about it? So as to avoid confusion, of course.

Porakiya said...

it must be hard being pink....and hairy

Lear's Fool said...

Is it weird that I want to have a couple of them and make them fight?

And then kiss?

Esther said...

I dunno...it kinda looks more purple to me.

Anonymous said...

I love this website! There is always some fantastic weirdness afoot...........or asquat.

Joseph JG said...

@TexWisGirl: Yup!

@Crunchy: It says it all!

@Porakiya Draekojin: It's a rather unexpected mix!

@Lear's Fool: Quite weird, I think. Then again when it's a hairy, pink fairy it's not clear what would be normal.

@Esther: Could be... they're very much hairy though!

@stregajewellry: :D I try!